We did an upgrade on our old point-and-shoot digital camera and got a Finepix S2000HD.We are very excited and we hope to take better photos during our trip in July. We would like to take photos of animals and birds by zooming in. The camera has got 15x optical(wide) and 10x digital zoom.We would like to get an idea on how far away the animals can be for me to get a decent picture?Anyone using a S2000HD?Any advice welcome from anybody (I'm new in this game) Thanks

Better photos are not related to the camera, just how you take them. Look for instance at Roger's topic.Just one hint, forget about the digital zoom! Use the optic zoom as much as you want in the field, but digital zooming you do at home, with Photoshop or a like program.

As for distances, take the camera outside, and photograph things at distances you can expect. Even licenseplates of cars can give you a good feeling for what the camera can do.

Not posting much here anymore, but the photo's you can follow here There is plenty there.

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c

Never use digital zoom My SO used it with Panasonic Z50The digital zoom just stretches the chip.So in fact you get more blurry shots and loose a lot of sharpness.Looks nice when its a small image but when you view it on the computer in full view its awefull

I bought this as a step up from typical point-n-cliks, but still portable. Waiting for new u4/3s to get cheap. I travel a lot, take a lot of 'real-estate' shots, also eBay/Craigslist shots, some landscapes. Have done one 'family portraits' shoot and one 'interior/exterior houses' shoot so far. Camera works fine except loud lens noise during videos, both zoom and autofocus/stabilizer noise. Not the best picture quality, but gud enuf. Menus slightly annoying, they all are. Lens stabilizer works fine. Digital stabilizer function just reduces resolution to up the iso- annoying because it doesn't tell you it's doing it- some low-light photos just come out low-rez. Got it for a hundred-fifty bucks less than the similar Canon, so I won't be too p'ed when I drop it or it dies. They're all disposable now anyway. Good value in my opinion.

I am looking for a camera specifically to take pics in the park. The SLR's may be too complicated for me and don't fancy the idea of going to get a degree to try and use it. Have looked at them l and have been told they are the best to get. Was looking at a Nikon D60. I am looking for something that I can aim and shoot.Today someone told me about the new Fuji hs10 (30x zoom). Has got mixed reviews on a few websites. Go for about R5300 (on kalahari). I thought maybe this is what I need as its simpler and apparently gives amazing pics. Has anybody tried it or know anything about it. Fuji doesn't seem to be on top with the Nikons or Cannons but I want something simpler than a SLR. Am I in the wrong direction, or must I stick to Nikon P100.Any thoughts from the experts out there. Help!!

Hi FeeI have been using the Fuji finepix S8000fd and have been very happy with the results. It is very easy to use! Most of the photo's Bushmom sent you were taken with it. I'm not familiar with the HS10 but I haven't had a days problems with my Fuji. Good luck with your decision!

Last edited by Bushbaby30 on Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I have a Fuji 8000 SD which is quite OK for everyday photographs, I use mine while out in the bush, when it is less hazardous I use my Nikons and Pentax's.

Should you need to take WOW photographs, the SLR is what you need.

One very often starts off with buying a certain camera, but as you use it and start comparing, you move on and than can become very expensive and you end up with a cupboard full ofcameras.

I participate because I care - CUSTOS NATURAENo to Hotels in and commercialization of our National Parks.No to Legalized Rhino and Lion trade.Done 159 visits to National Parks.What a wonderful privilege.

Allmost all the photos I have posted on this forum were taken with a Fuji S8000 FD , thus for really good photos an SLR is the way to go , that is if you are willing to undergo specialist training to extract the full value from your purchase , which actually also applies to the Fuji , because there are so many functions I have yet to grasp .

Last edited by ndloti on Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

KNP is sacred.I am opposed to the modernisation of Kruger and from the depths of my soul long for the Kruger of yesteryear! 1000+km on foot in KNP incl 56 wild trails.200+ nights in the wildernessndloti-indigenous name for serval.

I am currently in Kruger, and something has gone wrong with my Fuji HS10.

I am very new to photography, and bought it in Sept.

We visited Kruger in Dec and it worked a treat - I was quite proud of some of the photos I took!!!

Now we aqre back in the park and after I changed the batteries on Sunday, as soon as I turn it on it seems to drain the batteries and conks out!! I get the no battery red flashing sign, and the camera turns itself off.

Have I inadvertantly pressed a button that puts it in a mode that require a lot of battery? or something else?

Now, if it drains your batteries straight after switching it on it could mean that you either have flat batteries, sometimes happens! or you have a contact somewhere in the camera. Do you remember if your last pictures were taken with the flash???One of the first things to do is clean all the camera contacts and on switching it on shoot the flash a couple of times and then switch the flash off. I had something of the sort with one of my old pocket things and at the end figured out that it had something to do with the flash.

Hope you manage to sort it out.

"You can leave Africa but Africa never leaves you"LIFE IS MADE OF GOOD AND BAD THINGS, I TAKE THE GOOD AND YOU CAN KEEP THE BAD!!!Andy Benaglia

Thanks Andy. No it was in the day time.I took a picture of a malachite KF and wanted to take another, but the batteries and gone, so put four new ones in (as required) and since then this has been happening. Also the picture of the malachite was deleted!

Sorry about it. Seems something is not working in your electronics. At this stage try changing your SD card and clean the SD compartment as well as possible, all you need is a little dust in there to screw the whole system up.

"You can leave Africa but Africa never leaves you"LIFE IS MADE OF GOOD AND BAD THINGS, I TAKE THE GOOD AND YOU CAN KEEP THE BAD!!!Andy Benaglia

Found that one too Dotty...HELP is NO help " If the operation of digital camera's ON/OFF switch is unstable, try the following:1. Fit new or fully charged batteries.2. Switch the digital camera on by pressing the ON/OFF switch firmly.If these measures do not resolve the problem, contact the store where you purchased the digital camera or your nearest authorized FUJIFILM repair center."